Summerland

Dining

Summerland provides lots of scope for foodies interested in good dining.

Expect to find an easy-going atmosphere in a wide range of restaurants including downtown cafés and bistros, wineries, mountain-view and lakeside patios, even an historic stone house.

Many chefs now emphasize seasonal menus featuring local ingredients and wine lists that showcase Okanagan vintages. Summerland also offers a range of casual fare and ethnic eateries, and fast food staples are readily available.

Coffee Time

Summerlanders love a good cup of java. Forget the generation gap, young and old gather downtown at The Beanery Coffee Company (13016 Victoria Rd North) where the brew is blended and roasted on-site from organic beans. Sip a cup on the patio with fresh baked goods or daily lunch specials.

Deli Delights & Desserts

Start the day with a big breakfast at the Deli Café (9909 Main St) or fuel up at lunch with a stacked high corn beef on rye – and a side of Birkenstocks. This deli doubles as a shoe shop. The style and fare is more uptown at Victoria Road Deli & Bistro (13615 Victoria Rd North). Check out the yam fries with homemade smoked tomato and cherry ketchup. Chef Roger Gillespie grows his own heirloom tomatoes and changes the menu to suit seasonal produce. Save room for made-from-scratch desserts and ice cream at Sweet Tooth Temptations (13211 Victoria Rd N). Locals rave about the cheesecake.

Upscale Dining

The Vanilla Pod Restaurant (9917 Main St) is the place for tapas and wine. Sample tastes from around the Mediterranean and the chef's signature sushi pizza. Must try. For special occasions, locals head to the Cellar Door Bistro (17403 Highway 97) where the wines of Sumac Ridge Estate Winery are matched to the regional flavours of the menu. Soak up some local history in a 1916 landmark at Zia's Stonehouse Restaurant (14015 Rosedale Ave). The food at Zia's (Italian for 'aunt') reflects the name, just as if it was from an Italian auntie's kitchen.

Lakeside Dining

Local Lounge & Grille takes full advantage of its lakeside location. Arrive by car or motor up and dock at the marina, then soak up some rays on the patio or scan the views of mountains and Lake Okanagan. Food, wine and brew selections showcase local sources.

Markets

For do-it-yourself gourmet dining, the Summerland Farmer's Market presents products from local vendors on Tuesday mornings, April to October, in Memorial Park downtown. Find produce, preserves and home baked goods at farm fruit stands like Dickinson Family Farm and Blossom Fruit Stand. Roadside fruit stands include Granny's, Roberts Fruit Stand and Big Mac's Country Market, while Summerland Sweets offers fruit jams, jellies and syrups. Check with the Visitor Centre on Highway 97 for seasonal opening times.